Green and Rapid Determination of Phthalates in Mineral Water From Virgin and Recycled PET Bottles

This study investigates the presence and quantification of phthalates released into mineral waters from virgin and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. A green, solvent-free analytical method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed and validated to detect the following four target phthalates: diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The analytical method showed good sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and low limits of detection and quantification. Seventeen commercial water samples were analyzed, including 11 from virgin PET and six from recycled PET bottles with varying recycling content (30%-100%). Phthalate concentrations ranged from 2.21 to 18.96 μg/L, with DEHP being the most prevalent compound. Risk assessment following EFSA guidelines demonstrated that the estimated daily intakes (DIs) and the risk quotient (RQ) of all detected phthalates were well below the tolerable DI limits for both adults and toddlers. These findings confirm that the proposed method is suitable for routine screening of phthalates in mineral water and highlight the need for stricter quality controls in the recycled PET supply chain.